The Power of Mantras

May 10, 2018
Written by Elivette (Elly) Mendez Angulo

1 John 5: 9-13 (NIV) We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

I have been repeating many mantras of late.

When a man reached down and removed the dead bird from my path with his bare hands and I did not have enough sanitizer for both of us: “Sanitize him God, sanitize him!” In the work of Justice, SONG: Southerners On New Ground’s theme energizes and focuses me: “Squad Up, Skill Up, Slay! Squad Up, Skill Up, Slay!” And when my energy simply wanes and the work overpowers and tries to drain me: “Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortaleze… I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me…” Mantras are powerful, they keep us focused, and they remind us that we are not alone.

For those of us who believe in God made man, God who choose to live and die and remained always God… for those of us who question the Divinity of Jesus or his humanity… for those of us whom others have attempted to excluded from entry into the kindom of God (often by excluding us from our full humanity, including our relationship with other believers) there is 1 John 5: 9-10 in The Message: “IF we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony…” We can get stuck in the muck of human understanding and translation and interpretation, often believing in the human exclusion that is spewed in our direction, but we are created by God and God gives testimony.

We are fully human, souls in physical bodies with human desires for health, safety, companionship and love. We are made real by the breath of God in each of us. And yes, by the blood that was shed… Divine blood is our testimony.

Love who you love. Be who you are. God made you beautiful.

Mantras as Prayer: Love who you love. Be who you are. God made you beautiful. Amen.